Wire twister



June 19, 1928.

Filed Sept. 17, 1924' ing operation, and after the twist is made, and the two cut off portions of the wire are then released by throwing the hand lever U into the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

It will be seen that the entire device thus provided for twisting wires together is exceedingly simple, and is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and is simple and efl'ective in its operation, so that the wires can be quickly clamped and held, in such a manner that the twister can then be rotated without danger of releasing the wires.

During the twisting operation, it will be seen that the axis of rotation is substantially in line or coincident with the line of pull exerted on the wire, inasmuch as the user can pull back somewhat, ii necessary, during the twisting operation. The twist progresses from the tool toward the box, substantially in line with the line of pull exerted on the tool during the twisting operation, and with the end portions of the wire bent at an angle to said line of pull, in the manner shown and described Thus it will be seen that the wires are gripped between the surfaces 5 and 8. which are flat, and which extend rearward a dislance from the cutting edge of the jaw (5. Thus the wires are clamped a substantial distance back from the point where they are severed or cut oil, but are free to run together as the twist progresses and tightens up against the twister. Moreover, with the clamping surfaces 5 and 8 disposed at an angle, as shown, the wires are bent back and forth while the twister is being rotated, so that the wires are weakened at a point close to the sharp end edge of the jaw (3, whereby the wires are readily broken or cut oil as soon as the twist is completed. The surface 5, it will be seen, is in the nature of the bottom of a straight notch formed in the lower end of the jaw 4, so that the jaw 6 moves into this notch to grip the wires, and the latter are held against displacement from between the jaws. There is space back oi the jaws for the loose ends of the wires, if they are somewhat longer than the twist desired, and the front edges of the two jaws can be placed exactly at the point on the wires where the severing or cutting operation is to be performed, after the twist is completed, so that the twist may be of the desired length. But, as shown and described, the wires are effectively held between fiat surfaces for a substantial distance back from the cutting or severing point, and a substantial distance back from the cutting edge of the lower pivoted jaw. This tends to ensure the desired twisting action, and tends to insure the cutting or breaking off of the wires, in the manner described, after the twist is fully completed.

lVhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a wire twister, a head having relatively movable gripping and cutting jaws provided with a cutting edge at the extreme outer end of the jaws, for cutting the wire, and with opposing faces for gripping the end portions 01 the wire, so formed that the wire is clamped between the jaws, at an angle to the axis of the twist, and instrumentalities for manually rotating said head, whereby the twist progresses away from the tool and entirely in sight, and devices for manually controlling the relative closing movement between said jaws, by which the jaws are positively brought together manually to grip the wire between the ilat opposing laces thereol, carried by said head.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said jaws being pivoted together and adapted to grip the wire and formed to bend it at said angle to the axis oi rotation, so that the end portions of the wire are disposed at an angle to the line of pull, and so that the end poi" tions are automatically cut oil at the outer end of the twist and at the outer meeting edges of the jaws when the twist is completed.

A structure as specified in claim 1, said devices comprising toggle connections having a toggle joint which is straightened and thereby brought into position to automatirally hold the jaws together, when the wire is clamped between them, so that the one jaw which is movable is self-locking in operative position.

t. A structure as specified in claim 1, said devices comprising a hand lever pivoted on the head, a pivot for one of said jaws, whereby this jaw is movable relatively to the other jaw, and a link connecting said hand lever with said pivoted jaw, forming a toggle connection having a joint which has a position to hold the movable jaw in operative position, when the wire is clamped between the jaws, whereby the movable jaw is self-locking in operative position.

5. A wire twister tool comprising gripping jaws and means for rotating them about a longitudinal axis substantially coincident with the line of pull exerted on the wire during the twisting operation, said jaws being formed and disposed in position to bend the end portions of the wire at an angle to the said axis and line of pull, and one jaw being pivoted and having a sharp outer edge engaging the wire at the angle of said bend, preventing the twist from extending between said jaws so that the twist is entirely in sight.

6. A wire twister tool for twisting together the ends of the wire on wire bound boxes, comprising twisting means operative to complete the twist and having a cut off edge at the end thereof adapted thereafter to automatically cut off the untwisted end portions of the wire, preventing the twist from extending between said jaws, so that the twist is entirely in sight.

7. In a wire twlster tool, a head having jaws for gripping the end portions of the wire, and instrnmentalities for rotating said head, whereby the twist progresses away from the tool, and devices for controlling the relative movement between said jaws, carried by said head, said jaws being pivoted together and formed to grip the wire and bend the extreme end portions thereof at an angle to the axis of rotation of said head, so that the untwisted end portions of the wire are disposed at an angle to the line of pull, and having a cut ofi edge so that said end portions are automatically cut off when the twist is completed, preventing the twist from extending between said jaws, so that the twist is entirely in sight.

8. In a wire twister, a head having relatively movable jaws for gripping the end portions of the wire, and instrumentalities for rotating said head, whereby the twist progresses away from the tool, and devices for controlling the relative movement between said jaws, carried by said head, said devices comprising toggle connections having a toggle joint which has a straightened position to automatically hold the jaws together, whenthe wire is clamped between them, so that by said osition one jaw which is movable is self-10c ing in operative posimovementbetween said jaws, carried by said head, said devices comprising a hand lever pivoted on the head, a pivot for one of said jaws, whereby this jaw is movable relatively to the other jaw, and a link connecting said hand lever with said pivoted aw, forming a toggle connection having a position to hold the movable jaw in operative position, when the wire is clamped between the jaws, by

which toggle the movable aw is self-locking,

in operative position.

Specification signed this 13th day of Sept, 1924.

EDWARD CRAIG. 

